OMC Stringer

[willbeirness]

Will any stringer outdrive work on my boat?

 

[Bondo]

Re: OMC Stringer

Will any stringer outdrive work on my boat?

Ayuh,.... Welcome Aboard,.... Probably Not.... Whatcha startin' with, 'n wanta ya tryin' to do....

 

[willbeirness]

Re: OMC Stringer

I have a 1976 OMC stringer outdrive on my 120hp 2.5L. I blew the inner gears in my upper gear housing. I have a line on an outdrive off of late 70s boat. Will this work on my boat? In pic provided it looks like same O/D. They are both electric shift.

 

[Howard Sterndrive]

Re: OMC Stringer

you need to verify the gear ratio is the same, (specific to a 4 cyl.)
You also need to make sure it is from the same profile (low or hi)
If you have trucourse steering, you need to make sure the replacement does too.

 

[willbeirness]

Re: OMC Stringer

how do I know what mine has? I am new to this so I kinda dumb. I am quick learner tho.

 

[Howard Sterndrive]

Re: OMC Stringer

you can count gear teeth in the upper - or just ask the seller what engine was in front of it.

 

[willbeirness]

Re: OMC Stringer

The outdrive I am looking at is off of a 165hp and both are low profiles. I just want my boat to go. My kids are hounding me like you wouldn't believe. As to the true course steering I have no idea.

 

[Howard Sterndrive]

Re: OMC Stringer

The outdrive I am looking at is off of a 165hp.

that's a 6 cyl - no good -gear ratio different

 

[willbeirness]

Re: OMC Stringer

Oh man that sucks. I am having very hard time finding an outdrive at a reasonable price. Even a rebuild kit for these thing is through the roof. How do I get the lower gears out of the upper housing. I got the top ball gear out but can't get the lower gears out.

 

[Nivekt]

Re: OMC Stringer

Oh man that sucks. I am having very hard time finding an outdrive at a reasonable price. Even a rebuild kit for these thing is through the roof. How do I get the lower gears out of the upper housing. I got the top ball gear out but can't get the lower gears out.

I suggest you get the manual before you proceed further. There are many steps involved in disassembly that you want to get right. The repair job can only get more expensive if you damage something else.

I do not suggest you rebuild the upper yourself. If I were in your position and could not locate a replacement upper I would ship my upper off to these guys(sterndrive.info). Just to give you an idea of how complicated and precise a task it is to put new gears in one of these, check out this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s8VeE1i0o94

 

[willbeirness]

Re: OMC Stringer

ok I c it is going to be difficult job. Then my only option is to buy used. Thanks for the help. Guess I gotta keep looking and putting off the kids. Never will I buy OMC agan. I didn't realize I would have so much trouble finding reasonable prices fo parts.

 

[Howard Sterndrive]

Re: OMC Stringer

if your engine runs, search out a 70's or 80's Mercruiser powered boat that has a blown up 2.5L or 3L and toss your engine into it.

Or, just sell the motor (A good running 2.5L engine is worth more than a 1976 boat with a 2.5L/OMC in it as weird as that sounds) and go buy something with a Mercruiser Alpha 1 drive and Chevy V8 in front of it- that's the ultimate setup for plentiful, cheap parts. The market in ON is dead dead dead.... I can't believe how cheap running boats at well respected marinas are selling for - with a 1 season warranty usually

or dare I say, get an outboard

 

[willbeirness]

Re: OMC Stringer

Engine fires up at just a touch of the key. Thats why I wanna run this thing. I honestly believe I can fix this boat. What do you think my motor is worth. Like I said it is in perfect running order. I do know the motor is what you pay for when you buy a boat. The person I bought this boat off was runnin the outdrive with no lube in the top end.I will keep my eyes open for another boat tho.

 

[willbeirness]

Re: OMC Stringer

I bought this boat cheap hoping to get my kids out on the water fishing. I am low income single father with custody of 2 young boys. Iwas hoping to b able to fix cheap. I was told it was a starter issue so I shelled out $100 and replaced the starter. Turns out that wasn't the problem. I took the topend off the outdrive and removed the ball gear assembly. I found a whole bunch of bearing parts in the upper and no lube. Now I trying to get the lower gear assembly out of the top end so I can see how much damage is done inside. I not gonna take the gears apart unless it is necessary. My kids just wanna fish.

 

[Howard Sterndrive]

Re: OMC Stringer

crack free 2.5 engine will fetch $900 - $1200 in S. Ont -if you can demonstrate it running

4 years ago I bought a 1980 Oliver with rotten stringers, raccoon chewed interior, but a nice running 2.5L OMC and perfect working 400 series drive for $140 and it cost me another $140 to put the hull in the landfill when I was done stripping it.

 

[Howard Sterndrive]

Re: OMC Stringer

I honestly believe I can fix this boat.

yeah, you'll be a hero, but when I see this sort of thing for about the price of a rebuilt stringer upper gearbox i gotta question the logic
very reputable marina this is at too

 

[willbeirness]

Re: OMC Stringer

Ok I understand your logic but how do I find a boat with a blown engine. I am thinking of just sellin motor and buying something else if I can't find replacement outdrive. I also understand that boating is not a poor mans sport. I I do find a boat with blown moor will my motor just drop in or do I have t do more work?

 

[Nivekt]

Re: OMC Stringer

Ok I understand your logic but how do I find a boat with a blown engine. I am thinking of just sellin motor and buying something else if I can't find replacement outdrive. I also understand that boating is not a poor mans sport. I I do find a boat with blown moor will my motor just drop in or do I have t do more work?

Where are you located? You can try Craigslist or other classified websites. If you have a few marinas near you, go down to them and see where they can point you to. If you part out your current setup you will still get some good money out of the drive. For the upper, you can sell the gear case housing(as long as the inside isnt chewed up). You can also sell the lower gear case as well as the intermediate. If you take your time and sell everything on ebay after cleaning it up resealing you should get some good money for it.

 

[Howard Sterndrive]

Re: OMC Stringer

depends on the condition of the whole boat too, if it's worth saving or not - the correct drive will come around some day. Best prep for that is to learn all about the drives (e.g. Seloc manual / googling) and find out exactly what to look for (e.g. what is trucourse steering)

 

[willbeirness]

Re: OMC Stringer

I am in Parry Sound ON. The boat is in excellent condition. That'swhy I bought it. I fell in love with the boat and thought was only a starter issue until I put it in the water and tried driving it. hahaha oops.